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Secino named head football coach at Monty Tech

By Matt Stewart, Correspondent

Updated:
05/07/2016 06:32:34 AM EDT

FITCHBURG -- It was shocking earlier this month for some among the Monty Tech football faithful to hear that head coach Matt Sallila was stepping down, but to use a music analogy with his replacement, the band will be staying together, as one of the musicians is shifting to lead singer.

Anthony Secino, a longtime line coach, teacher at the school and former lacrosse head coach, will be the next head coach of the Monty Tech football team, school administrators announced on Friday.

"We're all excited," Secino said. "Finally we got things rolling last year, and we're really excited to come back as a staff. We have about 25 juniors coming back as seniors, and we have a great opportunity to make the playoffs and make a run.

"We're all ecstatic. I just got off the phone with the other coaches, and we're ready to get rolling."

Eight candidates applied for the head-coaching position, and the hiring committee narrowed that field down to three finalists. One of the three withdrew at the last minute, leaving Friday's decision down to two.

"It was tough because all three candidates had great interviews," Monty Tech Athletic Director David Reid said. "They presented themselves well and had some great qualities around them. The experience by two of them was unbelievable, but you had one who worked for the program for seven years. We decided to go with coach Secino, who had the tie with the program, the kids and the coaching staff, to hopefully continue what has been very good over the last few years.

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Monty Tech will be one of the most veteran-laden teams in Central Mass. Division 6 next year. Last year, with predominately juniors on the roster, the Bulldogs rattled off a 10-2 record, the best in program history, and won the State Vocational Large School title against Blackstone Valley on Dec. 3.

The Bulldogs missed the playoffs by the narrowest of margins last year -- just one point -- and reaching the postseason is a goal for the 2016 campaign, with the ultimate goal of making a big run.

"We want everyone to come out and support the team starting in September," Secino said. "Our expectations are high for this team, and hopefully we should make it into December, but obviously we need things to break right. We're going to go to work immediately."

Although this is the first head coaching position in football for Secino, he is not green by any means when it comes to the sport. Coaching runs in Secino's blood, as his father, Dave Secino, previously served as the head coach at Fitchburg State and Monty Tech, and was also an assistant at Fitchburg High.

Anthony Secino cut his coaching teeth at the beginning of the Sallila era with the Bulldogs.

"I've been around football my whole life," Secino said. "This is my first head-coaching opportunity and I'm excited that Principal (Thomas) Brown is giving me the opportunity to do this."

The fact that Secino is a full-time staff member at the school was another important factor in the hiring decision, as well as the loyalty he has shown to the program, Reid said.

"Having someone in the school from open to close everyday is something we considered," Reid said, "so they keep up to speed on what's going on with the kids in school, and for them to have someone to go to right away. Not that the other people that applied wouldn't be able to do that, but they aren't the employee at the school that Anthony is.

"Anthony will likely be here for the long haul. I'm pretty sure he was here in (Sallila's) 0-11 year and was here last year at 10-2. You've got to start someplace (as a head coach), and I think this gives him his opportunity."

There will be no drastic changes to the philosophy at Monty Tech, as all of the other coaches will remain intact, including offensive coordinator Dan Roy and defensive coordinator Tim Roy.

With Sallila's departure and Secino's ascendance, there is going to be one assistant coach needed on the team. The Bulldogs will likely be looking for a receivers/defensive backs coach.

"In the coming weeks we'll try to find the right fit to complete our coaching group," Secino said. "Everything's basically going to stay intact. Matt (Sallila) had a good thing going, and unfortunately he had to spend more time with his family. Fortunately for me, it's a good time to step up and kind of take the reins, and hopefully we'll continue in the direction we're going in."

The biggest benefit of Secino's hire may be the consistency that it creates for the athletes. There will be no conflicting styles, foreign philosophies, or learning curve. The players know what they are getting, and know the expectations and philosophy.

"Principal Brown talked about the kids really being behind me in getting the position," Secino said. "When I tell them they're going to be excited because they were really nervous about transitioning to a new coach and new assistants. Tim Roy has been with the program for eight years and Dan Roy has been with us for four, so the kids are used to our style of coaching, and not much is going to change there."

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